Berri Adheres to 'Package Deal', Says 'Impossible' to Extend Parliament Term

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that he has no initiative other than the one he launched in June as he urged the political forces to shoulder their responsibility and help Lebanon overcome the political impasse it is witnessing, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“Am I an initiative prolific to launch a new initiative each day...I already suggested what I have and the political forces must shoulder the responsibility,” stated Berri answering a question on whether he will launch a new suggestion in a speech he will deliver on August 31 marking the anniversary of the disappearance of Imam Moussa al-Sadr and his two companions.

Berri had launched an initiative aimed at ending Lebanon's political impasse. He called for shortening the term of parliament and that the elections be held based on the 1960 law should political forces fail to agree on a new electoral one.

He also called for staging the presidential elections after the parliamentary ones and forming a national unity government.

On the potentials for extending the parliament's term, Berri assured that it will not be extended “under any circumstances. It is impossible.”

In November 2014, lawmakers extended their mandate until June 2017.

Only two lawmakers voted against the extension, but 31 boycotted the session altogether in protest over the controversial decision.

Parliamentary elections were originally scheduled for mid-2013, but MPs approved a 17-month extension of their mandate on May 31, 2013.

On the future awaiting Lebanon's government as ministers of the Change and Reform bloc continue to boycott the cabinet meetings, Berri said: “The cabinet must resume its meetings next week as usual. I believe it has to take appropriate decisions in both the regular and important issues. But let us wait for Prime Minister Tammam Salam to return back from his vacation and then we will see what he has up his sleeve.”

Ministers of the Free Patriotic Movement boycotted the cabinet meeting last week which they say is linked to the thorny issue of military and security appointments.

On the presidential vacuum the Speaker said he is certain that a new president will be elected before the year ends if the “package deal” he suggested garners the approval of all parties.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and the MPs of Hizbullah, FPM founder Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 2
Missing humble 29 August 2016, 11:49

3asfooriyeh: can you please take the Caporal and put him in one of your dark rooms so Lebanon can be saved?

Thumb shab 29 August 2016, 21:19

ghanam